Böcker av Jo Hershberger

When unexpected change shatters the well-ordered lives of the citizens of Rockwell, the result creates a profound ripple effect. Loss and uncertainty plague the townspeople, a former resident, and a first-time visitor who wonder if and how the Midwestern community can ever recover. To their surprise, they see the strengths of the small town begin to surface . . . from the most unlikely sources.

Your Heart's Desire . . . A Mixed Blessing? The stunning news of a surprise bequest stops the aging Doris Lochschmidt and her adult sons, Doug and Dirk, in their tracks. For the two brothers, the gift opens worlds of possibilities. But Doris is not so sure. She's already dealing with the raw grief of fresh loss and the nagging ache of an emotional bruise caused by a family rift. She's not certain she can handle one more family crisis that is bound to change their lives. Like its predecessor, Some Good Memory, the gentle yet saucy Windfall focuses on the strain that unexpected challenges can cause. The small midwestern town of Rockwell again furnishes a landscape sprinkled with memorable characters who confront real issues that provide humor and food for thought. First-time readers will savor their introduction to the residents of Rockwell-and those who met the resilient Doris and her family in Some Good Memory will be grateful for the return trip.

The Durable Power of True FriendshipIn the fall of 1947, newcomer Kate Freeman feels like a social misfit until she joins three seventh-grade classmates for an after-school bicycle ride to the local cemetery. On their way home, the four girls share an experience that frightens them so badly that they vow never to tell another soul. That pledge forms the foundation for a friendship that molds them into a tight unit. As Kate begins to find her place in her new school, she adores the brazenness of ringleader Rosie Mulgrew, marvels at the abilities of the talented Cheryl Allison and wishes she could improve the lot of sweet but overworked Doris Panczyk. She is certain that nothing will ever separate them. When the four enter high school, circumstances beyond their control begin to crack their solidarity. Reluctantly they drift apart. Their close friendship, however, remains a cherished memory-one that is strong enough to bring them together more than fifty years later when one faces serious problems. Some Good Memory spans the jukebox years after World War II to the somber days following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Full of the flavor of history, it is most of all a story of lifelong friendship-one that makes the reader smile and recall, "I once had a group like that."